De Gea links with Real Madrid reopen due to '£51.6m clause at Manchester United'

David De Gea has been linked once again with a potential future move to Real Madrid after Marca revealed that the keeper has a €60m (£51.6m, $64.6m) release clause in his contract at Manchester United to leave Old Trafford. The Spanish publication claims that Los Blancos are currently happy with Keylor Navas but has not completely forgotten about the former Atletico Madrid star as he continue excelling both in the Premier League and with his national team.

Marca reported in its Monday front cover a massive story on Barcelona, revealing that Lionel Messi allegedly turned down an approach from the Catalan club to renew his current contract on July.

Yet, the Spanish publication has also some big news regarding the Barcelona archenemies, saying that Real Madrid still don't rule out to make a future move for De Gea.

The Manchester United keeper was on the verge of joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2015 after the Premier League giants and Real agreed his transfer on deadline day – with Costa Rica international Navas expected to make the move in the opposite direction as a makeweight.

However, the deal collapsed on deadline day after paperwork failed to arrive at La Liga headquarters on time. Navas thus stayed as Real Madrid number one while De Gea, only days later, committed his long-term future to Manchester United by putting pen to paper on a a new four-year deal until 2019.

But speculations linking the United keeper to Real Madrid re-emerged earlier last summer after club president Florentino Perez himself failed to close the door to such a move.

Yet, AS then reported that Real Madrid had an option to sign De Gea by meeting a €50m release clause that expires on 15 June. Los Blancos eventually passed that opportunity and De Gea remained at United, keeping a predominant role at the Red Devils following the summer arrival of Jose Mourinho.

But Marca has now reopened the speculations after revealed that De Gea still can leave United should any club meet his €60m release clause.

The Spanish publications claims that agent Jorge Mendes agreed to include that clause in his contract when both parties signed the renewal in 2015, allowing United to protect his immediate future but failing to "close the door to any club willing to put that kind of money on the table."

Marca adds that Real Madrid "has not forgotten about De Gea". The report points out that €60m is a big fee for a keeper but recalls that Florentino Perez has never hesitated to pay big money to recruit the best players in the world and De Gea has arguably become one of the best in his position. The United keeper has established himself as the number one in the national team since Euro 2016.

Furthermore, the news came following a start to the season in which Navas has been under some scrutiny at the Bernabeu. The Costa Rica international enjoyed an impressive campaign at Real Madrid last season but has failed to rediscover that form this term after he was forced to go under the knife in the summer due to an achilles long-term injury.